Integrating Science Across the Curriculum

A simple question that I decided to research was: How can you integrate science across the curriculum?

What I found was that a key goal to integrating science with other subjects such as math, reading, writing, social studies, technology, and the arts is to reinforce other skills by engaging students in science investigations. For example, science projects that include reading build science knowledge while strengthening literacy skills.

Communicating is key. Make sure to talk with other teachers to find out more about the other skills being taught to incorporate these skills into the science activities. For example, a science project that asks students to measure, collect and analyze data, graph, and express scientific relationships also builds math skills. Another example of incorporating literacy and science togerher is to bring trade books and writing into the lesson.

There are many more differnt ways you can integrate science across the curriculum as long as you are creative!

Nature Preserves

I grew up in a small, rural town with one large building containing grades PK-12 and naturally, around the school was a pond and a river that made its way through the Rosholt School District's Nature Preserve. When the weather was nice, (and sometimes when it wasn't) we visited the preserve for science class every couple of weeks in just about all grades. The whole class was excited when we learned that we were heading out into the woods, so I have been wondering what schools do if they don't have access to a nature preserve within walking distance of the school.

Upon doing a little research and talking to a few teachers at my cooperating school (Smith Elementary Oshkosh, WI) I have found there is not much a teacher can do. Not every school has the opportunity my school had to purchase lands right next to the school for a nature preserve. At Smith Elementary, the school takes it's students on one field trip for science a year. The teachers try to pack as much science into one day as possible and it sounds like the teachers think the students get a little overwhelmed. The other option the teachers have is to bring nature to the classroom. In the 2nd grade classroom I'm in, the students have been studying the life cycle of a butterfly and just today we released 4 butterflies into the classroom so we can study them for 2 days. Basically what I have learned is teachers will do infinite amounts of research to find inexpensive ways to bring nature into the classroom.

My internet research brought few results. There is no information on the web that revolves around nature preserves for schools that do not have access to one. What I did find was many links to field trips all over the nation and also links to classroom activities that bring the natural world into the classroom. This was interesting and there were some relevant activities. One of the websites was http://geology.com/teacher/ which has many interesting geology activities.

Tom's #scichat second visit

Hey y'all - I buzzed in on #scichat again last night and had a better expereince than my first visit. The topic was quetioning, I think : D

After going back several times, I'm starting to get a sense of the "personality' of the conversation. Folks are easy going, but are bringing opinions and perspective and seem willing to defend them. That said, they seem to be resicoulously helpful. Got a question, need a resource? Somebody seems to have an answer. I am also sold on the #scichat dialy as a nice way to round up some of the links. All for now-

Fun and inexpensive ways to bring science into the classroom

It is important to keep science fun through hands on materials to do experiments and inquiry. When it comes to buying supplies and materials prices can quickly start adding up. My question was what are some fun and inexpensive ways to bring science into the classroom?

Two ideas I found can be used in any subject you are working with. The first is called appointing a librarian. Each week, or every knew unit someone would be appointed the librarian. This person would be responsible for finding online encyclopedias, dictionaries, author websites and other resources outside of the school on the subject you are teaching. This person is then in charge of introducing the new materials to the class. I liked this idea because it allows the children to be responsible for their own learner and it gives them the opportunity to discover other ways to find information besides the classroom and internet. The second idea I found was called a Facebook fan page. The teacher would create a fan page with discussion questions, website links, and initiated conversations about what they are learning. I feel this idea is geared more towards high school level class where Facebook is more commonly known and used.

I then found three ideas that were geared directly towards science. The first idea was to have the children use their senses to stimulate curiosity. Have them feel, smell, taste and listen to things around them. The second idea was to use online museums like Exploratorium. This is a fun and free way to let children explore new ideas, and it helps give the teacher an idea of what the children are interested in learning. The last idea I found was to let children use familiar objects around them to learn about science. Some of the ideas the website gave were listening to a dripping faucet, old doorbells, and household plants and gardens. All of these ideas are fun and free ways to keep science interesting and fun for our students!

Amanda's Intro

Hi -

My name is Amanda Noworatzky. I live in Appleton, WI with my son Eli who is 9 years old. This is my 2nd semester in the act! program offered through UW Oshkosh. I graduated from UW Stevens Point in 2000 with an Urban Forestry and Plant Biology degree. After finishing college I worked for Memorial Florists and Greenhouses in IPW (Interior Plantscape of Wisconsin). Once my son was born I became a stay at home mother. I did this for a few years and continued to work at MFG part-time.

When my son began nursery school I began contemplating going back to school for my teaching license. But as we all know life sometimes has other plans in store for us. Instead, I trained to become a Yoga instructor in the fall of 2006 at the YMCA. Two years ago I received my certification for teaching yoga and now have my own yoga business teaching for Lawrence University and subbing for friends at their yoga studios. From yoga I learned many things, most importantly that I truly enjoy teaching.

I feel there is so much to offer young science students. To get them excited about a sometimes intimidating topic early on is a challenge I would like to take on. My love for science began in the 7th grade so I would like to expose middle school students to that love.

Last year I finally decided it was time to take the next step and join in the much talked about act! program. And what a great program it is. I have two more semesters including this semester and hope to student teach in the fall of 2011.

Introduction

Hi everyone! I am Nicole and I attend UW-Oshkosh. I am majoring in Elementary Education (1-8) and have a minor in science. I will be graduating in May and I can't wait! I would love to teach abroad for a year or two, or I would love to do Teach For America. Oh the choices... :)

After listening to what Rachel Pike had to say it is obvious that she is very passionate and knowledgeable in her field of study. I think our team name is Team Pike due to her confidence, dedication and the importance of her specific knowledge of the "isoprime." I think because of this isoprime and how it effects our atmosphere will not only bring awareness to to us, but in the end is another reason why we are Team Pike.


:)

#scichat gathering - 9/21

I participated in last Tuesday's #scichat gathering (9/21). I have to say Twitter is not my natural habitat. It felt quite alien, like being at a party where you don’t know anybody or any of the in jokes. This session was open – without a topic – so that might have had something to do with it. I don’t like the format, or at least am not used to it. I’d like to be able to see my post embedded with the posts that come up without having to have two browser pages open and toggle back and forth. It makes following the thread or knowing if your tweet was seen by others a bit tricky. Information and comments just keep trickling in, like an old school stock ticker. People send links to projects and lesson ideas, or just random stuff that they think is cool. Too much information, or at least not enough organization. I have been back several times and have found, at least so far, that the format makes it difficult to find what is relevant for me. I guess scrolling through the posts isn’t much different than scrolling through headlines, looking for what interests me. In future sessions having a topic might bring a little focus for a newbie. On a positive note, I now have a Twitter account. Also, the #scichat Daily is pretty cool. This is the sort of thing I might come to as I’m browsing the daily online news(I guess I’m a sucker for the traditional print media format, or on online version that mimics it), plus it has a live stream of the #scichat Twitter page.

Introduction

My name is Kendall Schroll. I'm a senior at Drake University. I am studying Elementary Education with an endorsement in Special Education. I don't really have a grade I would like to teach. I think older elementary, but I would be happy with any age. I am originally from Chicago, Illinois, but I now call Des Moines home. I love to do all sorts of things in my free time. I love taking pictures, baking and playing any sport I can. I also love to travel. I've been lucky enough to go overseas with my church the past three years on mission trips.

I believe our team name, Pike, is after Rachel Pike. Like Shannon mentioned, Pike shows what a Scientist really should look like. She is out doing her experiements in the world. She isn't confined to a laboratory like we normally invision Scientists to be. She gives a good picture of what we should be passing on to our students when we teach them what it looks like to be a scientist.

Shannon

My name is Shannon Anderson and I'm currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Teaching program at Drake University. I'm majoring in elementary education with endorsements in reading and unified early childhood. I graduated from Simpson College in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Following graduation, I taught pre-k for a short while and really enjoyed it. It was that experience that made me realize teaching is my passion. Outside of class, I enjoy watching movies and spending time with friends and family.

I think our name, Team Pike, represents what it is to be a scientist. Rachel Pike is a true scientist. She is out in the field, collecting data, and collaborating with hundreds of other scientists. She is a true representation of what we want our students to understand about science. We want our students to know that science isn't just a step-by-step procedure that leads us to the "right" answer. Science is messy and there are many different processes involved in science. Team Pike represents the "true" nature of science.

Kelsey

My name is Kelsey and I'm in the Master of Science in Teaching program at Drake University getting my K-6 teaching license with endorsements in reading and ESL.  My passion is working with English language learners.  After tutoring students in college and working in some educational capacities with immigrants and refugees after college, I figured out that I love learning about how people learn.  I want to be a teacher because I enjoy helping each and every student figure out how he/she learns best.  When I'm not in class or working part time at an insurance agency, I love to cook, spend time outdoors, travel, attend my brother's football games, or spend time with the people I love.

Our team is named 'Pike' because Rachel Pike represents a true scientist . . . one who works with hundreds of other people, explores isoprenes in nature, talks to others about her research, makes observations, and tries to understand nature better by making models.   Rachel Pike is clearly a represenation of the true nature of science--what we should be teaching our students.  I believe our team is named Pike because we will be exploring questions about how we can be effective when we teach our students the true nature of science.

Erin's Introduction

Hi, my name is Erin and I am a senior at Drake University majoring in Elementary Education. I have endorsements in Special Education, Early Chilhood and reading.  I hope to teach Pre-K or Kindergarten. I have loved working with children since a young age, and have been babysitting for 9 years. I have also tutored students since high school, and the biggest reward is seeing a student's reaction when they finally get a concept. That lightbulb or AHA moment. I love to bake, read, and spend time with family and friends.

I think our team is named after Pike because she is a confident speaker and knowledgable in her area of study. She demonstrates how the process of science really works, she doesn't sit in a lab, she does field testing and uses computers. Some of these tests take weeks, and may only give a small amount of information, but they are still important. I think this relates to teaching because sometimes you have to spend a lot of time and energy with a student and they may only have little progress. This doesn't mean it was a waste of time, because that student will probably never forget what you did for them. I also like that Pike was not afraid to do something "dangerous" to do her research. In the classroom, we have to go outside what is normal or comfortable for us to meet our students needs.

Kelly's Intro

Hi. My name is Kelly Hillman. I am attending UW-Oshkosh and majoring in Elementary Education (PK-6). Education wasn't my first choice for a career. In 2002 I graduated with a double major in Marketing and Commercial Graphics. While working as a marketing consultant I began substituting as an early childhood teacher at Christian Community Child Center here in Oshkosh. It was during this time that I discovered how much I enjoyed teaching. I went back to school in 2006 and will finally graduate in May. I live in Oshkosh with my husband Rob. I also love to fish, travel and watch college football.

I think Pike was chosen for our team because she is an active participant in her learning. She goes out into the field and gathers her information and data in crazy ways. She doesn't just sit behind a desk and have others gather the info and data for her. I think that as teachers we need to "go out into the field" along with our students while they are learning. This helps students to feel motivated and more enthusiastic.

Niki's Intro

Hello,

My name is Niki Van Nuland and I am a senior at UW-Oshkosh majoring in Elementary Ed and Special Ed 1-8th grade. I hope to teach upper elementary students, either in a regular ed setting or a special ed setting, because I think that at this age they are still so eager to learn, but also old enough that you can do fun things and joke around with your students. I always loved the teachers who weren't scared to have a sense of humor with us so I hope to be like that someday with my students. I work as an Autism Line Therapist and absolutely love it. I really enjoy the aspect of working one-on-one with a child and developing a strong connection with them.

I believe our team was named after Rachel Pike because she is a scientist who isn't afraid to go to crazy limits to test her experiments. She will hang out of a plane at the top of a rain forest to test what she is experimenting. As educators we need to teach our students to not be afraid and to be ambitious when they are being scientific. We should encourage them to try new things and be creative and fearless when coming up with new experiments and questions. She is also very passionate about what she is doing and as teachers all we can hope is that our students will develop the same kind of passion, whether in science or any other subject.

Luke's Intro

Hi, my name is Luke Vosz and I am a super senior at UW Oshkosh. I am an Elementary Education major with a math minor hoping to teach middle school math. Learning revolves around classroom community climate and I feel the best way to create a safe and fun learning environment is through the teacher's attitude and sense of humor and I know I have both of those working for me. I also love working with children and it makes my eyes light up when a child has that "light bulb" moment. I'm a country boy from Rosholt, WI who loves to do anything and everything outdoors. My favorite time of year is winter because icefishing and snowmobiling are the best! I would love to go back to Alaska (vacationed there twice growing up) and teach there for a few years.

Pike was chosen to represent our team because of her interest in specific detail and the broad spectrum it is encompased in. As teachers, we have to pay attention to the details of all our students as well as have a grasp on the big picture. She does this in her line of work as well. She also puts oodles of time into one thing that "could" get her some information; we must do this as well and we will fail, but the fact that we tried and "maybe" got through to a child is what matters.

Hi, I am Jennifer Lemery and am currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. My major is Elementary Education Pre K-6. My love for teaching comes from working with the kids, and having the opportunity to make a difference. I have worked in the Summer Fun Club and After School Program at the YMCA the past three years and have done many volunteer opportunities including The Golden House and Special Olympics. I am originally from Denmark, WI and in my free time I enjoy being outdoors and hanging out with friends. When I graduate I hope to find a job outside of Wisconsin teaching either first, second or third grade.

I believe our team name is Pike because Rachel Pike is a scientist who is not willing to give up. From the video you can tell she really enjoys doing research and is passionate about what she does. As future educators it is important that we have good role models to learn from. After seeing Rachel be so passionate about her subject it made me want to know more. It is important as teachers to really care and understand the subjects we are teaching so every child has the opportunity to learn.

Tom K's bio

Howdy folks – Tom here, in the act! program at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh/Fox. I'm married, with two kids - a girl in 3rd and a boy in 5th. We like to camp, ski, sail, and canoe - all silent sports. My background is in anthropology (I’m an out of work archaeologist) with a B.S from the University of Alaska Anchorage (Anthropology, Spanish minor) and all my coursework completed towards a M.S. from FSU in Tallahassee (ABT, archaeology focus). I’m into prehistory (peopling of the Americas), but have worked on both historical and prehistoric projects in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and Wisconsin with sites ranging in dates from 50 years ago to 12,800 BP. Teaching-wise, I subbed for a year in Anchorage, student taught at FSU, ran an archaeological field school for SCA volunteers with the BLM, worked as a sea kayak instructor/guide, and have volunteered as a soccer coach for the last three years. Besides archeology, I’ve lived and worked in a few places, and traveled to a few more.

As far as my future in teaching is concerned, I’m hoping to teach earth sciences or biology at the high school or middle school level. My license will be in broadfield science. More and more I’m interested in middle-schoolers, partly as a result of my subbing experiences. I found that by high school, most kids were already “tracked” – they were either into learning, or just cruising. Middle-schoolers seem a bit more fluid as far as where they see their own identity, which to me feels like an opportunity. I’m also interested in multi-disciplinary approaches to teaching and learning, the culture of science, science and religion, and current issues in these areas.

Michelle Pike might have been chosen as our namesake due to her dynamic speaking abilities (I though i was watching an infomercial at first) and invlovemnt in international, multidisciplinary, cutting edge, and RELAVANT (current headlines) research.

Tom

Dani's Intro

     Hi, my name is Dani Newell. I am a Junior at Drake University. I am majoring in Elementary Education, Early Education, and Special Education. I love kids and everything about them. I've been told since I was younger that I'd be a wonderful teacher someday. I love to cook also. I studied culinary arts for a couple years. Ultimately someday I would love to own my own business and teach special needs children how to cook. I'm from Plymouth, Minnesota. I love Minnesota but HATE the cold. Ironically, I love to play ice hockey and played for 11 years. I work as a nanny and for Caribou Coffee both at school and at home.

       I think our team was named Pike because of the things she and her team are doing in science. Some of the things I saw in the video I found very interesting. She is most certainly not following a stereotypical scientific method approach to her observations and research. As a future teacher I found her to be very intriguing. She is a very confident speaker and that is a very good quality to have as a teacher. I hope to at least seem as confident as she is when I am in my classroom teaching science someday.